by India Kells
“Hello, Sera! Be with you in a minute.” Rosemary’s joyful voice came from in front of her and Sera smiled.
“No problem, take care of your customers first. I’m in no rush.”
The man before her turned, probably looking at her. From what Valeria and Violet had told her, when she became blind, her natural azure eyes had paled considerably, now the color of bluish frost. She supposed it was eerie for anyone looking at her to gaze into freakish unseeing irises, but she didn’t want to wear black glasses. She had donned her thick lenses all her life as her vision slowly decreased and didn’t want to feel them on her nose anymore.
“I think the menu is up front, sir. Not at the back.”
When she heard the man’s sharp intake of breath, Sera thought she had ticked him off, but when he started to laugh, she relaxed.
“I’m sorry, miss. It doesn’t happen often, but you took me by surprise.”
“Why? Because I’m blind or because I caught you starring?”
Another bout of laughter made her smile. The man wasn’t old. His energy was strong, a bit on the darker side, which was a sign of suffering or violence. His voice was deep, calming. A good man, Sera decided.
“I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable, miss. It wasn’t my intent.”
Sera extended her hand. “I’m Sera. And you are?”
When he gently grabbed her hand with his larger one, images and sensations popped into her mind in rapid succession. And now she knew why he had that darkness around him; he was a policeman.
“I’m Hunter Grimes. I just relocated from Chicago.”
He was telling the truth as far as she could sense before he let go of her hand. Sera marveled at her newfound ability and how her magic adapted in a way that continued to help her.
“Won’t you find the countryside and forests of Maine a little tame for your tastes, Mr. Grimes.”
“Please, call me Hunter. I’m certain I won’t, Sera. I’ve been a cop in the city for too long, and this relocation is exactly what I need. Calm and nothing unexpected will be perfect.”
Sera nodded and wondered if he knew he was talking to a real witch and that, not so far from here, the Sanctuary, run by her friends, had shifters, vampires, fae and other strange creatures roaming about.
“Well, Easthallows is a small town. So, I guess you’ll face small-town problems.”
The man stayed silent for a few seconds. “Yes. You’re right.”
“Next!” Rosemary hollered, and she felt Hunter move forward toward the baker.
“A coffee to go. Black. And whatever the lady here wants.”
He wanted to buy her coffee? “Hunter, there’s no need...”
But he was already paying for her usual large latte doctored like she adored it. No surprise as she came in every morning, ordering the very same thing.
Standing there with what she hoped was a stern look on her face, Hunter was back before her.
“Hunter...”
“Please, allow me. You’re the first friendly face I’ve actually talked to without giving out a ticket, Sera. It’s a celebration coffee, please accept it.”
His voice was so full of earnest, boyish charm that her pinched lips turned into a grin.
“Well, in that case, I agree. But it’s one time only, Mr. Grimes.”
She extended her hand to grab the cup. Gently, so as not to surprise her, he took her other hand and gave her a brown paper bag. Before she could ask, he moved away.
“For the road. Happy to have met you, Sera. See you around.” And wind blew over her face as he left.
What a strange man, Sera thought, when she heard Rosemary coming to stand beside her.
“Whew! If I was twenty years younger, I would snatch that handsome cop right out from under your nose, my dear.”
Sera remembered how Hunter touched her hand and there wasn’t any spark. Not like with Ian. And once more, she pushed the annoying thought away. She couldn’t have Ian. The werewolf was too close, too tempting and she respected him too much to drag him into her mess and break the rules. Hunter, on the other hand, was a human, unaware of her world, and posed a threat if he ever discovered it. However, he could be controlled if need be. Not that she relished doing such a thing.
“Describe him to me, Rosie.”
“Oh! I’d say at least six two, broad shoulders. And I’m certain that, under his winter coat, there’s a wealth of hard body to play with.”
Sera laughed at the outrageous woman, who continued.
“He looks young, but with some gray in his hair. Mostly clean shaven and the most fascinating pale blue eyes. Much like those Husky dogs.”
Sera wanted to say she liked blue eyes. Well, she did. But that was before she had seen amber ones that had set her heart ablaze.
Chapter Two
The wind picked up, passing through his thick winter coat like icy blades, but Ian didn’t care. His blood was boiling too hot to notice the weather. A man had talked to Sera. He had seen her coming out of her tiny apartment on this sunny winter morning. Snow had fallen overnight, turning the town into a picturesque postcard. He always liked Easthallows for that. The little town flowed into the countryside, almost blending into it, and its people minded their own business while remaining amicable, which helped their kind remain invisible to humans. And now, one of the town’s friendly people, a human male, had turned his wolf into a murderous beast.
Deep breaths just barely calmed him enough so he wouldn’t shift in the middle of town in plain daylight. He had no claim on Sera and never had, so why was he and his wolf so twisted about her? They both had been since the moment they had first seen her. The blond bookworm behind her thick glasses, hidden deep in her library, eager to help and fight for her friends. Even with her body hidden under a large woolen sweater, he had reacted to the swell of her hips, her breasts pushing against the fabric with each inhale of her breath.
The last time his body had responded that way was for his late wife. Julie was the polar opposite of Sera; dark brown hair, the strong body of a shifter, and the sensuality that went with it. His wife hadn’t been sweet or flirty, and went for what she wanted. And their mutual attraction had been explosive from the beginning. An undeniable partnership. And when she became pregnant with their first pup, it solidified their relationship even more. The birth of Amelia brought him more joy than he ever thought possible in his life. His daughter, his living and breathing flesh, the most precious part of his heart. He had a family, a purpose with his daughter and wife. And Julie had been his true mate, from the beginning to her untimely end. The only one he would have until his heart stopped beating.
Learning of their deaths had fractured something inside his soul. A piece of him had vanished, so deep, so painful that his mind had been lost. That’s when Asher Stonelake, the Sanctuary Master, found him, homeless, wandering in the forest, almost back in his feral state. He offered him a home in his Sanctuary. The Alpha werewolf had saved his life, but had not been able to mend his soul despite his efforts and friendship. Ian respected Asher, but he needed to come to terms with the anger and rage seething in his soul. When he encountered Asher’s mate, witch turned weredragon, Valeria Lancaster, he met the daughter of the man who slaughtered his family and it took a miracle, and the swift intervention of Asher, not to kill her. More miraculously, Valeria, in her own magical way, found the only thread still attached to his soul. Sera, Valeria’s long-time friend, had been the one who started to wake him up. The first time he had seen her, it was as if a veil lifted before his eyes, allowing light to flow back in again.
And that light came out of the bakery, carefully walking on the snowy sidewalk, her hand skimming the building walls while the other held a cup of steaming coffee and the little paper bag. As she did every day, Sera made her way to the store and her workplace, Impossibilities Inc.
Discreetly, Ian followed her as she turned the corner and called back to someone saluting her. The witch stumbled and slid, falling on her ass in a heap o
f blue coat and laughter, her coffee still in her hand. An older woman was by her side before Ian could cross the street. A crushing sound made him realize that he had gripped the nearby brick wall, breaking one of them as he restrained himself from going to her.
“I knew I could trust you, Ian.”
He almost jumped out of his skin at the female voice behind him. Rare were the people who could sneak up on him, but Valeria had a way about her, especially as her shifter side gained in strength.
Composing himself, Ian straightened and turned to his Alpha’s mate. At first, he thought he would see reproach in her eyes, but instead, they were on her friend, concern coloring the golden irises.
“What’s going on?”
Valeria’s didn’t answer and waited until Sera entered the shop and disappeared from view. And, as if nothing happened, she turned and smiled at him, which made Ian even more suspicious.
“Were you following me, or guarding Sera?”
“What’s to guard? This is called being at the same place, at the same time.”
But when Valeria tried to sidestep, Ian counteracted and shook his head. He knew his Alpha’s mate to be stubborn, but when it came to Sera, he could be a wall and it took only a second for her to exhale, defeated.
“I worry about Sera, okay? I know, I agreed when she told us that she wanted to go back to town, to her apartment. That she had prepared for all of this. But even if she’s a witch, and magic still protects her...”
Ian’s instinct buzzed. He remembered that conversation too well. It was still night when he had heard noises coming from upstairs. An early riser, ready to check on the Sanctuary’s sentinels, he was about to start the first pot of coffee when he caught her smell. Almond and cream mixed with musty paper and ink. A unique blend that he could recognize anywhere. The coffee forgotten, he had gone to her as she reached the living room. When she asked him to shift into wolf form, it should have been weird, but the sincere interest and curiosity that sparkled in her blue eyes behind those thick frames made him feel like he was doing her the greatest favor in the world. When he shifted back to his human form, her curiosity turned to arousal, her scent filling his nostrils, making him dizzy with need. Kissing her had become his sole purpose in life, an addiction.
But when their kiss ended, and her mesmerizing eyes opened once more, they didn’t see him.
The panic he felt contrasted with how calm Sera had been. Same as for Valeria, and their friend, Violet, as if they already knew it would happen. That suddenly? The feeling of helplessness that surged in him had been almost as strong as the one he felt when his wife and child died. The painful memory brought him back to the present.
“Protect her from what? Or more precisely, from whom?”
He must have struck a nerve because he saw Valeria twitch slightly.
“Valeria, what’s going on?”
The weredragon sighed. “Let’s go back to the Sanctuary. I’ll tell you there.”
“I’m not leaving Sera without protection. If she’s in danger...”
But she interrupted him. “Inside the shop, Layla and Abrams are guarding her.”
Ian scoffed. “I don’t see how a fluffy white cat and a zombie butler could protect her.”
He knew he had messed up when Valeria crossed her arms and her exhale looked suspiciously like smoke, even in the cold winter air.
“I wouldn’t underestimate their abilities, Ian, you could be strangely surprised.”
It was his turn to take a stand. “And I wouldn’t underestimate their abilities if I knew what or who they were defending Sera against. So, should I walk into that shop and ask Sera about it myself or wait for you to finally tell me?”
Valeria seemed to look deep into his eyes for the longest time, as if to gauge his sincerity or maybe his determination. It irritated him to no end and he had to remind himself that he had no claim on Sera. The kiss they shared might not have the same meaning for her. That very thought twisted something inside him, and the image of the human male who had offered her a coffee came back to mind. Would he be able to let her go? To see her with another? Even if he reminded himself that he was a werewolf and she was a witch and their kind had no future together?
The wind shifted, and he smelled a werebear approaching. Patricia. A member of Sanctuary, and the one in charge of taking care of the grounds and house. As beta, Ian often worked with her.
The brown-haired woman turned the corner and waved at them. Ian nodded at her before turning his focus back to Valeria.
“Let’s go back to Sanctuary, Ian.”
“I’m not leaving Sera unprotected, if she’s in danger.”
“She’s not. And that’s why I asked Patricia to keep an eye on her.”
“If she’s not in danger, why are you here? And Patricia?”
Valeria shook her head, clearly exasperated. “Come with me, Ian. Let’s have a coffee. And because you care so much about my dearest friend, I’ll do something I never thought I would do. Break a promise.”
Chapter Three
It took all his self-control not to turn around and leave Valeria with her coffee. But the woman was adamant, and if he wanted to know who was after Sera, he had no choice.
The small diner was a place Ian went often when he was in town. The food was good and, more importantly, very generous, which would at least satisfy his shifter appetite for a few hours without raising suspicions.
Heat felt like a wall when they entered, contrasting dramatically with the temperature outside. Valeria waved at a few people, before moving to sit at an empty booth near a frosted window. She quickly rubbed her palms together and grabbed the menu.
“I’m hungry. Again. And I had breakfast this morning!”
Ian didn’t need to see the menu. He knew it by heart. “You’re a full shifter now, your system needs more food.”
Valeria harrumphed and pinched her lips. “You say that, but you’re not the one who’s next hamburger will go straight to his hips.”
“I’m not discussing your hips with you, Valeria. Asher would have my hide for that. My Alpha is one jealous wolf.”
“If he was so jealous, I wouldn’t be here alone with you.”
Ian grinned, shaking his head. “He’s probably texted you already three times and is waiting by the door for you to come back. And I’m not talking about the link you share. He must constantly be reaching for you as we speak.”
“Was it the same with your mate, Ian? That invisible link?”
And there it was. The conversation he didn’t want to have. And it was one that she repeatedly wanted him to have since the moment he became friends with her. Typical woman to think that talking would resolve anything. He had dodged her on that subject, but Valeria had a way of making you think you were off the hook before pouncing on you when you were most unaware.
The waitress arrived with two cups of coffee, saving him from answering. Yet. Valeria ordered a double burger with fries and he opted for his usual Lumberjack breakfast plate.
“You think I didn’t notice that you haven’t answered my question, Ian?”
He sighed and bit back an exasperated groan. Unless he gave her something, the woman would be relentless.
“Yes, you have that kind of bond with your mate. You sense them, as you do with Asher.” And when the bond is broken, that’s when you knew they had died. The most pain-wrenching feeling you could ever experience. That was something he would never tell her. That part of you is never the same once you lose the second half of your soul.
Valeria looked at him, taking his words in. “I can’t imagine... I don’t want to imagine how I would feel if I lost that connection... Him.”
And before he could move away, she put her hand on his. The gesture made him freeze. Her pale, much smaller hand on his, offering comfort, made him both uncomfortable and grateful.
“Thank you, Valeria.”
Gently, he pulled his hand away. She was his alpha’s mate, and he respected Asher too much to do anyt
hing remotely inappropriate.
“Now, about Sera.”
“Yeah... wait a sec.” Before he could speak, Valeria took the salt shaker and poured some in her hand, murmuring something he didn’t understand. Then, she discreetly threw some around their booth. When he arched an eyebrow, she shrugged. “Only making sure nobody will hear what we say.”
Witches... it almost made him smile. Even with restricted magical powers since she turned into a shifter, Valeria still reverted to her old habits.
Ian was growing impatient but calmed down when he saw her draw a deep breath, as if about to do something either very difficult or very painful.
“You know I’m not... normal.”
Ian blinked at her, not sure he understood. “No offence, but you look pretty normal to me.”
Valeria rolled her eyes. “That’s not what I mean, smartass... I was raised a witch, but something felt off... Then, I met Sera and Violet and, with Layla’s help, we... we found out that we weren’t the run-of-the mill witches... we were more than that.”
Ian wanted to pull his hair out if Valeria didn’t get to the point soon.
“So, Sera and Violet are like you? Half-weredragons?”
Valeria sighed again and slowly shook her head. “If only. You know that in our world, species are forbidden to mix. And if they do, any offspring...”
He knew the answer to her unspoken question. The world was evolving around them. The human world. But theirs was still stuck in traditions and century-old rules.
“So, you say that the three of you are different. I understand that. But how is Sera being different a threat to her life now?”
Valeria put her hands around her coffee. “It took time for all three of us to see how different we were. I, for example, didn’t know until I met Asher, and my powers turned against me, that I was a shifter. That’s how I had the confirmation that I had shifter blood in me. I won’t speak about Violet, it’s her secret to tell. But for Sera...”